To say Chen Wei-Ling has been a dominant force in her strength career would be an understatement. Yesterday at the IPF Open World Championships in Orlando, Chen added two more records to her resume. First, she hit a 210kg (462 lb) single ply squat, which is 4.5 times her bodyweight at 46.75 kg (102.85 lb).
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While the squat was impressive, performing this lift wasn’t an easy feat for Chen. She had to re-rack three times, and finally hit the lift on the third attempt with only three seconds remaining on the timer. After the impressive 210kg squat, she recorded a 105kg (231 lb) bench press and 175kg (385 lb) deadlift. These lifts would combine to earn her a second world record of a 500kg (1,100 lbs) total in the -47kg category, or an amazing 10.69 times her bodyweight.
This is Chen’s sixth equipped IPF Open World Championship first place finish. She also took home first in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2007. Chen is now 34 years old and has been a national level competitor since the early 2000s. She’s predominately known for her squat and deadlift strength in the -44 and 47kg bodyweight category.
Her new equipped squat record will replace the previous 200kg record she recorded in 2014. In addition to her squat, she also holds the IPF Open World Record for equipped deadlift at 186kg, which to no surprise, she also recorded in 2014. Chen is no stranger to competing raw as well. She holds three records for the raw -47kg category including a 152.5kg squat, 175kg deadlift, and 407.5kg total.
And if her powerlifting resume wasn’t impressive enough, Chen has also competed in three Summer Olympics. She represented Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in 2004, 2008, and 2016 in the women’s 48kg weightlifting category. In 2008, she took home bronze for Taiwan with a 84kg snatch and 112kg clean & jerk, giving her a 196kg total. This past year she placed seventh with a 181kg total.
It’s safe to say, Chen has done more than enough to make a case that she’s one of the best female strength athletes of all time. What do you think of her new squat and total records? Does this seal her the title of best -47kg female lifter of all time?
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